Sign-flasher



L. B. BROWN.

SIGN FLASHER. A Pu'cAnou FILED SEPT. I9, 1917.

Patented June 17, 1919.

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LEE B. BROWN, OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

SIGN-FLASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1919.

Application filed September 19, 1917. Serial No. 192,142.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LEE B. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baton Rouge, in the parish of East Baton'Rouge and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sign- Flashers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in sign flashers, and has for an object to provide an improved driving mechanism for the electric sign flashing switch which will be equipped with a device for discon necting a switch in the sign circuit at a predetermined time, in order to discontinue the flashing of the sign at a late hour in the night.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which similar symbols represent like parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an clevational view with parts shown in section of the driving mechanism for the sign flashing switch showing the sign circuit in diagram;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the sign flashing switch taken on the line 33 in Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of a part of the driving mechanism and switch; and

Fig. 5 showsan elevational view partly broken away of a modified form of sign, together with an elevational view of a switch with diagrammatic electrical connections therebetween.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and for the present to that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, 1 designates a case for inclosing the switch and its driving mechanism, said driving mechanism being supported in the upper part of said case 1 on a frame 2 of any suitable character. Journaled in this frame is a drive shaft 3 having a spring-pressed pawl 4 fastened thereto, and engaging with an in ternal ratchet 5 formed on a drum 6. A cord 7 wound on said drum 6 carries a weight 8 which, as it descends between the guideways 9 and 10, carrying therewith the cord 7, imparts to the drum 6 a rotation in a counter-cloclnvise direction such that the shoulders of the ratchet 5 will engage the pawl 4 and cause the simultaneous turning of the drive shaft 3.

A large gear wheel 11, fastened to the drive shaft 3, meshes with a pinion 12 on a second shaft 13 having fixed thereto a large gear wheel 14. A pinion 16 on a third shaft 17 is in mesh with the gear wheel 14 to cause rotation of a third gear wheel 18 fixed to said shaft 17. The gear wheel 18 drives a pinion 19 on the switch shaft 20, to which is fixed a traveling arm 21 moving over a circular contact strip 22, and carrying a brush 23 wiping over a drum 24, in which are embedded diametrically-disposed contact plates 25 and 26, both in electrical con nection with a lead 27.

The arm 21 of the switch carries an arcuate contact 28, moving over the circular contact strip 22, coming successively into engagement with a series of contact Studs 2 and 30 embedded in said circular strip 22, and in successive electrical connection in the manner shown in Fig. 1, with a series of letters 31 in the sign 32, in order that as the arm 21 is rotated the letters 31 in said sign 32 may be successively illuminated.

On the sign shaft 20 is also a toothed wheel 33 engaged by an cscapement 34, under'the control of a pendulum 35 for regulating the movement of the gear train in a manner which will be well understood.

The various lamps in the sign 32"are connected by a common ground 36, and receive current from a suitable source through a conductor 37, all as shown in Fig. 1. This conductor 37 is joined by a wire 38 with the lead 27 through a switch having a movable part 39, adapted to close the circuit between said lead 27 and wire 38 when it is in one position, resting against the studs 40 and 41, but adapted to be revolved by a cord or rod 42 to break the connection and discontinue the supply of electricity to the switch and lamps in the sign 32. This switch part 39 is revolved by the attraction of an armature 43 to a magnet 44 which is in circuit with the conductor 37 and ground 36, through bran ch I wires 45 and 46.

A frame 49 is mounted to reciprocate vertically, and carries pairs of contact levers 52 and 52 pivoted as indicated at 53 and 53 and havin their rear ends ada )ted to the purpose described below. The frame 49 is held in a lowered position by a COll spring 50, and is adapted to be raised by a flexible connection 53 connected to the armature 4:3.

The operation of this form of the invention may be briefly described as follows:

The cord 7 is first wound up on the drum 6 by rotating the latter in a-clockwise direction, which has no effect to rotate the driie shaft 3, inasmuch as the inclined sur-.

faces of the internal ratchet 5 ride over the outerend of the pawl a. This winding of the cord 7 ,on the drum 6 elevates the weight 8 to the required potential position necessary for driving the mechanism for-a prolonged period. The weight is thereupon released and permitted to descend between the guideways 9 and 10, accomplishing as it does so the drawing out of the cord 7, and the simultaneous rotation of the drum 6this time in a counter-clockwise direction, which causes the internal ratchet 5 to so engage the pawl as to carry the drive shaft '3 therewith, imparting a like rotation to the gear wheel 11. This gear wheel 11 in turn causes the rotation of the remainder of the train of gears, and the' ratio of the gearing is preferably such that while the gear wheel 11 turns but once in an hour, the switch shaft 20 will complete one'hundred and twenty-five revolutions in the same period.

It is obvious that changes might be made in this gear ratio to secure the necessary flashing frequency of the sign.

As the switch shaft 20 revolves it carries around therewith the arm 21, together with the arcuate contact strip 28. This strip moving in the direction shown in Fig. 3, will come into contact successively with the series of studs 29,'thus progressively closing the several circuits to the letters 31 in the sign 32; the contact strip 28 being preferably sufficiently long to bridge all of the studs 29 so that the letters previously illuminated 'will remain lighted until the illumination of the complete sign has been accomplished.

As soon as the complete illumination of the sign has been eflected the contact plates 25 and 26 in the drum 2 l will be so relatively located that the brush 23 will thereupon pass ofl that strip which it at any time is engaging to the insulated part of the drum adjoining, which will have the effect of immediately breaking all of the circuits to the sign letters, and immediately placing the sign in darkness.

The necessary time required for the weight 8 to descend may be taken intocomputation, and the projection 51 and arms 52 Asthe weight. 8 descends the projection 51 will encounter first the upper contact lever 52, which will cause the rear end of the same to be elevated into engagement with the stud 54, thereby closing, the circuit through the electromagnet 4st, which will immediately draw down the armature 43 and cause the movable part 39 of the switch to be revolved, for instance, cut ofl the light circuit.

Simultaneous with the movement of the arn'iature as the frame l9 will be drawn upwardly by means of the flexible connection 53, which will raise the contact lever 52 past the projection 51, after which the spring 55 will be effective to return the contact lever 52 to normal position, thus breaking the electro-magnet circuit.

The weight 8 may thereupon continue to descend, the sign circuit being all the while open the distance traversed by the projection 51 from the upper contact lever 52 to the lower contact lever 51 representing, for instance, the period from the cutting out of the sign at night to the time for re-commencing the flashing of the sign the next evening 7 hen the weight 8 engages the lower contact lever 52 such lever will close the circuit through the stud 5-1 thus energizing the electro-magnet 44, which will again pull upon the connection 42 and close the switch 39, thus placing the signagain in circuit. Of course, as many contact levers may be employed as required, so that the weight may continue to descend through a long distance capable of operating the mechanism for several days or more without the necessity of again raising this weight to the uppermost position.

The lights in show windows and stores may also be connected through the switch 39, thus cutting them ofl at the time the switch is cut ofi. Of course, the connections for flashing the sign on and off may be changed to suit different signs without'altering the general working of the system.

Now referring to the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, 6O designates a sign having translucent letters 61 of any suitable character, they being illuminated by means of a'lamp -62 su plied with coal oil from a reservoir 53; 1h sign being useful for those localities erein electric installation cannot be readily or economically had.

A movable cylindrical mask 64: is adapted to reciprocate vertically, operating to and fro an opaque chimney 65 for the purpose of alternately obscuring the and un'masking the same to allow the light therefrom to illuminate the letters 61 of the sign 60. The reciprocating movement of this mask 64 is achieved by an electro-magnet 66, having an armature 67 and a cord 68 running over pulleys 69 and 70, and being connected to the outer end of an arm 71 on the lower end of said mask 64.

A guide 72 passes up through the arm 71, and a coil spring 73 is wound about said guide 72, such spring being compressed when the mask 6% is raised to engage the chimney 65; this movement belng eflected by the closing of the circuit through the electromagnet 66, and the consequent attraction of the armature 67 thereto, which creates a pull on the cord 68 thus raising the arm 71 and connected mask 6%.

As the arm 71 ascends, a beveled nose 7 e thereon engages a corresponding beveled nose on a horizontally-recipr0eating latch 75, operating through a casing 76, and normally projected in the position shown in Fig. 1 by a coil spring 77. As the beveled nose 7% engages the nose on the latch 75, the latter is shifted to the left to permit the arm 71 to pass, and after passing the latch 75 is again projected through the spring 77, thus engaging beneath the arm 71 and holding the mask 6% in the elevated position.

The spring 7 3, therefore, is ineffective to drive the mask 64: downward until the latch 75 shall have been retracted. This latch 7 5 is connected by a cord 7 8 to an armature 79, under the influence of an electromagnet 80, whereby the latch is retracted at the proper time to permit the spring 7 3 to come into play.

Any suitable electrical connections may be employed to alternately close the circuit through the electromagnets 66 and 80, one form being shown in Fig. 5, and which consists in a rotating shaft 81, carrying a contact arm 82 having a brush 83 wiping over a continuous electrical contact surface 84, to which is connected one lead 85 from a source of current 86. The opposite side of this source 86 is connected by a main lead 87 to branch leads 88 and S9 with one side of each of the magnets 66 and 80. The other side of the magnet 66 is connected by a wire 90 with a series of contact studs 91, on an insulated circular strip 92; these studs 91 alternating with similar studs 93 connected together and to the other side of the electromagnet 80 by a wire 9%.

It will be obvious that as the shaft 81 is driven, the arm 82 will make successive contact with the studs 91 and 93, and will alterlamp 62,

nately close circuit through the magnets 66 and 80, which will efiect the required reciprocation of the mask 64:.

It will be obvious that various changes might be made in the herein described con struction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an electric circuit, means for opening and closing said electric circuit, drive means adapted to actuate said last named means, said drive means including a descending weight, a switch also arranged in said circuit, an electromagnet having a movable armature, a connection between said armature and switch, a shiftable frame, a contact lever fulcrumed on said frame, a contact on said frame adapted to be engaged by said contact lever, a circuit for the electromagnet including said contact lever and contact, means for yieldingly holding said contact lever out of engagement with said contact, a part carried by said weight into engagement with said contact lever whereby the latter may be moved to engage said contact and close the circuit through said electromagnet, and means arranged between the armature of said electromagnet and said shiftable frame for moving the latter when the electromagnet is energized to draw said contact lever past said part whereby the contact lever may escape from engagement with said Contact and de'e'nergize the electromagnet, and means for restoring said shiftable frame to the initial position, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, t he combination of a circuit, means for openlng and closing said circuit, means for actuating said last named means including a descending weight, a switch also arranged in said circuit, an electromagnet having a movable armature, a connection between said switch and armature, a circuit for energizing the electromagnet, a pivoted contact lever arranged in one side of the electromagnet circuit, a contact arranged in the other side of the electromagnet circuit, a reciprocating frame arranged alongside of the path of said descending weight, said reciprocating frame carrying said contact le ver and contact, means for yieldingly holding said contact lever out of engagement with said contact, a projection on said weight adapted to strike said contact lever and move the same into engagement with said contact whereby to close the circuit throughand energize said electromagnet, a connection between the armature of said electromagnet and said frame whereby to draw the same in one direction to cause said contact lever to escape from the projection on said weight, and means for restoring said reciprocating frame in the opposite direction whenthe clectromagnet is deenergized, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a circuit, means for opening and closing said circuit, driving means for said last named means including a descendingweight, a switch also ar ranged in said circuit, a pull chain connected to both open and close said switch, an electromagnet having an armature in operative relation to said pull chain switch may be opened and closed on subsequent energization of said electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet, a shiftable frame mounted alongside the path of said descending weight, spaced contact levers carried by said shiftable frame, contacts arranged to be engaged by said levers, means for yieldingly holding said levers out of engagement with said contacts, the levers and contacts being each arranged in the electromagnet circuit, a projection on said weight adapted to strike said cont-act levers to move the same into engagement with the contacts whereby to close the electromagnet circuit and cause actuation of said switch, means connected between the armature and said shiftable frame whereby to draw the latter in a direction which will permit the escape of the contact-levers from said projection when the electromagnet circuit is closed, and means for restoring the shiftable frame to the initial position when the electromagnet circuit is reopened, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a circuit, means for opening and closing said circuit, drive means for said last named means inwhereby the cluding a descending weight, a projection carried by said descending weight, a vertically reciprocating frame arranged alongside the path of said descending weight, a contact lever pivoted on said reciprocating frame and having one end arranged to be engaged -by said projection whereby to swing said lever, a contact on the frame arranged near to and adapted to be engaged by said contact lever, means for yieldingly holding said contact lever normally out of engagement with said contact, a second con tact lever pivoted on said reciprocating frame at adistance below said first named contact lever and also having one end dis posed in the path of said projection whereby said lever may be rocked, a second contact on said frame arranged near to and adapted to be engaged by said second named contact lever, means whereby said last mentioned contact lever may be yieldably held out of engagement with said contact, an electromagnet having a reciprocating armature, a circuit for said electromagnet including said contact levers and contacts, a switch arranged in the first named circuit, a pull chain connected to open and close said switch, said pull chain being connected to said reciprocating armature, a flexible connection arranged between said reciprocating armature and said frame whereby the latter may be drawn upwardly to permit the contact levers to escape from the projection on said weight when the electromagnet circuit is closed, and spring means for returning said reciprocating frame to initial position when the electromagnet is deenergized, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof,IafliX my signature.

LEE B. BROWN.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, .Washington, D. C. 

